REVIEW | The Mousetrap 70th Anniversary Tour

★★★★

Reviewer - HARRY BROGAN

Have you seen it?…the world’s longest-running play in the West End…I have!

The Mousetrap is currently touring to celebrate its 70th Anniversary! and now with a Broadway transfer on the horizon, now is the best time to see this historic show. This murder mystery story would be something I don’t normally watch. I didn’t know what to expect from this experience at all.

The Mousetrap follows the classic Agatha Christie murder mystery novel, throughout the show it makes you ask one question and one question only and that’s…”whodunnit?” Which, I certainly was asking myself quite a number of times from the start of the curtain rising until the end when the cast told you who really did it.

The cast is made up of eight performers which include; Joelle Dyson, Laurence Pears, Elliot Clay, Gwyneth Strong, Todd Carty, Essie Barrow, John Altman & Joseph Reed who take on the various characters very well with star moments from them all throughout the show.

Elliot Clay played the role of Christopher Wren, which he did very well. He played the character very flamboyantly (which I liked) brilliantly, but too not over the top so he had nowhere for the character to go when needed, such as when the detective suspected he was the killer. (which he may or may not be). He used his physical skills successfully by using the stage space well. Clay demonstrated the character’s energetic mannerisms. I also liked how he worked with the relationship between Christopher and Mollie. I feel that he showed that Christopher really cared about Mollie, and feel that he showed she is the only one he can trust. His comedic lines within the show had me laughing. He delivered them very well with good comedic timing, his vocal skills worked well as you could tell that he was nervous and excited, which is what the character was supposed to be like.

As an audience member seeing the show for the very first time his performance was very convincing to me. I was fully invested and interested in the character and wanted to know more about him.

My next standout performance was Sgt. Trotter who was played by cover Jack Elliot, the role is normally played by Joseph Reed. Jack played Sgt.Trotter well. He definitely had an amazing presence on stage and showed the character’s objective well. You can tell some kind of acting method may have been used to develop his character such as Stanislavski’s units, objectives and super objectives. You can definitely tell what the character wants when present on stage. He commands the stage and other cast members with his voice and status. He used the space well and he definitely drew attention to the character when the audience needed to listen to him.

Finally, another great performance was from Joelle Dyson who played Mollie Ralston. Joelle was great as Mollie Ralston. She played the character well and you could tell the character she was playing was the peacemaker of the whole show. Mollie wanted to see the good in everyone at the manor, and that you would never think someone would be killed in their newly established guesthouse. Her connection with Christopher was great, it felt like she was mothering him and worked well with his backstory in the show.

The other cast members were great, they played their characters really well, whether that’s through delivering sarcastic and funny lines, or convincing the audience it wasn’t them. All characters had an equal amount of stage presence to shine and tell their story and why they mysteriously ended up at Monkswell Manor. With direction by Ian Talbot and Denise Silvey, they both bring a classic novel to life on stage really well. They have really thought about how they can bring the suspense to the stage. Trough the show I tried to work out the puzzle of whodunnit, it felt like I was playing my own personal murder mystery-solving game.

The whole show was delivered through a simple design, in terms of the set, makeup and props. Costuming kept to its 1950’s setting, which meant the story was essential to the flow of this production.

The lighting design gave great effects and feelings, such as dimming when the outside was getting darker or blackout when the murder happens. This show doesn’t need anything outlandish or extravagant to make it popular or great. What audiences are there for is the actual plot and story by Agatha Christie, and that is what it delivers.

I think the tricky thing for a murder mystery play is creating the suspense and driving the audience through the story, without having an anti-climax. The Mousetrap was like a game of Cluedo combined with the Hunted (on channel 4) and the Scotland Yard board game.

But surely you want to know who the murderer is don’t you?...well the murderer is…. you're going to have to book to find out “whodunnit?” - you really didn’t think I was going to reveal the biggest show secret ever, did you?

After 70 years running, and finally a Broadway transfer I was honoured to see the show and here’s to another 70 years!

The Mousetrap is performing at Manchester Palace Theatre until 3 Dec as part of its 70th-anniversary tour. Book your tickets now!

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*Disclaimer: AD | Gifted Tickets